World of Writer Mom

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

CONTENTMENT - Eleven Points

This post sponsored by Forever Anniversary

CONTENTMENT - ELEVEN POINTS

by: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

Contentment may not be as simple as we'd like. Searching for it, longing for it, dreaming about it, and hoping to find it continues to be a life-long treasure hunt for many. Although circumstances often create roadblocks to our contentment, there are a few coping strategies we can consider along the way. Contentment is a dynamic condition, and one that is worth pursuing. Here are a few ideas to get you started. I look forward to hearing your ideas too. Let me know where you are in your adventures and shout out a few of your own resources here.

Choices - It helps to consider more than one way to reach your goals. Often we box ourselves into a one and done method. Give yourself permission to release yourself from this limitation. Choices open our eyes to new possibilities. Work, relationships, and financial matters can be linked to our choices.

Opportunities - Find moments to expand your circle of resources, get out of your comfort zone to network with others, research new careers, and sign up to learn something new. If we stay "stuck" in our current position we risk losing our flexibility for change. It's easy to remain in what becomes familiar long after it is healthy for us, simply because we are afraid to move forward. Change can be difficult for many of us. Practice seeking out other opportunities to enhance your experiences in life.

Numerous adventures - Adventures do not need to be elaborate, expensive, or intense to be meaningful. An adventure can be learning something new, going on a hike, exploring a section of town you've never seen, or planning a short road trip. Adventures offer a range of experiences that can enhance your feeling of connection to family and friends. They can even provide a way for you to enjoy time to yourself. Getting away from your typical schedule or routine can boost your brain and recharge your energy. For anyone who has anxiety when veering too far off a routine, you might choose to have some quiet time. Your adventure is whatever you need on your way to contentment.

Tenacious decisions - When faced with serious circumstances, life-altering situations, and season-of-life desires for change, remember that perseverance and consistency create the path toward our goals. Research your resources, write down your strategies, and evaluate your progress. Make those tenacious decisions! Expect to be nervous and scared. Change, even good change, is hard and uncomfortable. Lean into that discomfort and keep moving. It is within these moments of change that we begin to find contentment.

Encouragement - It can be difficult if not impossible to infuse yourself with inspiration. Sometime we struggle to find the motivation, strength, and endurance required to push forward. This is when you find your team of individuals who add positive energy, uplift your spirit, and emotionally support your plan of action. If you find that someone is pulling you down with all the reasons "that can't work", it's time to reduce your contact with them and recognize they are one of the reasons we sabotage ourselves. Encouragement can come from many sources. Find what works for you.

Nourishment - Commit to healthy food, drink, and physical movement. Start with small changes and remain consistent. When we are accustomed to doing things a certain way for a long period of time, rewiring our brains to do something different takes time. Give yourself grace on the days when you feel discouraged. Keep working toward your goals and schedule reminders throughout the day to inspire follow through.

Tranquility - Find moments throughout your day to breathe, release tension, and be at peace. This is often one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish. We are all so busy and often over-scheduled. Even a few seconds to close your eyes and visualize a place where you feel calm can make a difference. If you have a 30-minute lunch break, consider taking the first 5 minutes to decompress and the last 5 minutes to re-energize your mind before returning to work. Visualize a box where you "store" your concerns for that period of time. It doesn't mean you're ignoring the tasks waiting for you. Instead, think about this as a temporary parking spot where you have to turn off your engine. Breathing and counting exercises can also help.

Movement - Short breaks throughout your day to get up and move have been proven to increase productivity, enhance creativity, improve brain function, and decrease stress. More intense movement where you increase your heart rate improves cardiovascular health. Lifting weights improves muscle tone and enhances overall sense of well-being. Whether you choose to move several times throughout the day for quick brain breaks or schedule in a workout, movement is an important strategy in your quest for contentment.

Education - The process of learning has the potential to boost confidence, enhance sense of self-worth, and improve opportunities to make an impact in your chosen career field. The more we engage in learning about the world in which we live, the better we can understand ourselves and the people with whom we come into contact. Embrace new strategies, methods, and techniques as you commit to reading, research, and activities. Take time to boost your mind and challenge your brain.

Negotiation - There is a fine art in learning how to appreciate individual differences, understanding how people engage in discussions, and discerning what it takes to work toward mutually beneficial outcomes. One of the best ways to develop your negotiation skills is to develop a strong enough sense of self that you can put aside ego and personal gain. Be willing to compliment others and appreciate what they have to offer throughout your negotiations. As with any fine art, successful interactions take time and plenty of practice.

Teamwork - Collaborating with others to share resources, develop strategies, and create programs in a supportive environment can lead to satisfying experiences whether at home, in the work place, or in a sports arena. Teamwork involves planning, negotiations, contracting, timelines, and the ability to follow through on projects from start to completion. The dynamic pull of team mates as each variable is incorporated creates an energy and flow. There is satisfaction in seeing a plan grow and materialize.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog.

You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And...a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MARYSTEA

Learn how you can become a marketing affiliate
and earn a little extra income for your family.

Find a sponsor for your website and
earn extra income using Share A Sale.

Already have a business?
Learn how we can...

INCREASE your SALES
DEVELOP your BRAND
GENERATE INTEREST in your SITE
CONTACT SHARE A SALE!

This article features our special affiliate collaboration.

We invite you to look at their shop.

Here's the perfect opportunity to select a gift for someone you love.

I'm happy to help you if you require assistance.

Message me in the comments section.

Disclaimer
World of Writer Mom.org is part of an affiliate program. This means that if you make a purchase through the links I promote on this site or on its related social media platforms, I may earn a small commission from that action to support World of Writer Mom.org
Important: You will NOT be charged more when buying products through my link.
I enjoy taking time to research products that look interesting and may provide helpful resources to you and your family. The opinions, knowledge, and experiences I write about are my own. Real Life Awareness: Recommendations do not imply liability, responsibility for disappointments or failed expectations, or regret over budgeting woes. I trust each reader to use their own good judgment when it comes to knowing what will work best for you and your family. (Because...well...I am not the ultimate decision maker, judge, or source of approval for anyone except myself...and my children...until they are legally allowed to represent themselves.)
Thank You for taking time to read, participate, and share your adventures with me. Hopefully, we'll find something to occasionally purchase, enjoy, and use in an effort to create a special moment.Privacy: This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on October 15, 2020. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here at: worldofwritermom@outlook.com

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Ten Ways to Chase Away Amazing Employees

Disclaimer: This article does not represent any specific facility or group of employees.

It's message is typical for many organizations given the information

that has been reviewed on several job sites.

Please read additional disclaimer at the end of this article.

Ten Ways to Chase Away Amazing Employees

(A review of careers in mental health)

By: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

When you find an employee who wants to work, appreciates the mission of the company, and cares enough to bring concerns to your attention, you've got a treasure! And if you have several treasures like this as part of your organization, it is wise to recognize how to keep them with you for a long time. Employees who are passionate about their job might tolerate a lot. But if you lose sight of your company's mission and ignore the warning signs of discontent, be prepared to lose big! Your employees are not just the people you have to pay to do a job. They are your source of life. They will inadvertently market your program without you ever knowing it. Every time they are on their way to a shift and stop by the Dutch Bros. or Starbucks for their jolt of energy, you are being reviewed. Every time someone asks them where they work, you are being reviewed. Every time someone on social media asks for a reference of places to apply for a job, you are being reviewed.

Working in a health care setting is especially challenging. Patients come in with various concerns such as trauma responses, substance abuse, suicide attempts, and medication adjustments. The ages range from young children all the way through the life span to geriatrics. Additionally, they are tasked with keeping everyone safe, fed, and provided with activities throughout their stay. Although it takes a patient and empathic heart to do the job of a Mental Health Tech (MHT), these amazing individuals are often underpaid and overworked. Many programs continue to accept patients even when staffing is short; this places everyone at risk and subject to potentially unsafe circumstances.

Mental Health Techs and Nursing staff in mental health facilities have been known to get hit, spit upon, kicked, and sustain injuries to include concussions, bloody noses, lacerations, bites, and broken bones. There is no hazard pay. Handle with Care Training to minimize these types of injuries is provided but is no guarantee. Learning to de-escalate agitated patients is a part of the training and always the first choice. The pay for these positions is low, given the acuity on some units. Considering the amount that gets billed to insurance companies and the salaries of some CEOs, it is unconscionable that employees are not better compensated for their skills and experiences. (Check out Indeed.com positions and read the reviews. Salaries might also be available for viewing on this site.)

Instead of investing in current employees and considering how to improve pay for them, some companies chose to ignore this element of staff retention and continue to support the revolving door of new employees. When current staff talk with new staff, they inevitably discover that new employees get hired at a higher rate of pay than loyal and dedicated staff members. Additionally, new employees are being offered a "sign on bonus" when current staff cannot get a decent pay raise. Adding pennies to an hourly wage is insulting and will never be equitable when compared to what newer, often less qualified staff members are offered.

Article sponsored by: Purple Trail.com

Keeping valuable employees is critical to the success of Mental Health Hospitals! Your community talks. Read those online reviews and stay in touch with social media. Listen to your employees. If they bring concerns to you that draw awareness to patient care and safety, pay attention! Ignoring or minimizing these concerns is poor management, a potential nightmare when state is notified by a patient's family member, and a great way for your marketing department to look like liars when what they promise and promote doesn't match the reality of your facility. You can't fake it forever.

Here are ten guaranteed ways to chase away amazing employees who work for a mental health hospital:

1. Underestimate their skills and abilities.

2. Assume your employees won't discuss their salaries and compare them to new hires.

3. Complain to your employees in a staff meeting that you don't know why people don't stay and ask them for ideas on how to encourage people to stay. (After staff has already made you aware of the reasons.)

4. Ignore unsafe work environments and continue to increase census through staffing shortages.

5. When an employee is injured/exposed to illness on the job, take their time off to recover out of their PTO.

6. Ignore those work order requests that would help maintain a facility.

7. Make up stuff that looks good on your website even though the reality of your patient's experiences will be very different...and not in a good way.

8.Do not clean the carpets or walls. Keep the writing on the furniture that includes every curse word known and unknown to humans. And make sure that all those penis illustrations on the shelves and under the desks in patient rooms stays there as long as possible so future patients can enjoy them.

9.Create a need for "treasure hunts" every shift so your staff has to search for the supplies and snacks needed to provide services to the patients.

10. Minimize concerns that staff presents to you. The same staff that could save you $ by pointing out flaws in your contracts for linens and other supplies will become frustrated and annoyed that those in charge are "too busy" to address these concerns. Especially after being told that there is no money in the budget to provide a decent cost of living increase.

Article sponsored by: Purple Trail.com

And if you want to know how to retain your treasured staff, just review this list of ten and do the opposite. Thank you to all the amazing mental health workers who continue to have patience with their patients...and all the administrative BS that accompanies this career choice. We can and need to do better for the patients in our care and for the staff.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog.

You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And...a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/

This article features our special affiliate collaboration.

We invite you to look at their shop.

Here's the perfect opportunity to select a gift for someone you love.

I'm happy to help you if you require assistance.

Message me in the comments section.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Advocacy and Awareness in the Work place

Please read disclaimer at the end of this article

Become an ADVOCATE in your work place

By: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

This post sponsored by: Forever Anniversary

Click on link to see more

Reality check for companies who do not recognize current employees, hire new workers at a higher pay rate than more experienced/current workers, give sign-on bonuses when they cannot "afford" to compensate current staff, prefer to spend money on the new hire process when they could invest in their current staff and keep them versus losing them to others who will better compensate them...I could go on. There is often a stunning lack of awareness for long-term goals versus short-term solutions. Wondering why you are losing staff, unable to meet state guidelines, and keep your census up? Not listening to what your employees have to say about safety concerns? That's on you. Unable to advocate for your staff but wish you could? Hire someone to provide a detailed action plan and figure out a timeline for improvements. Your seasoned staff can be your lifeline. Look at their skills. Involve them in the process. Let them see you want to change. Your actions speak clearly. What is the message that is being projected? If your staff isn't able to speak on your behalf or market your program, you're destined to fail. (Disclaimer: I am not referring to any company that is currently on my profile. I am very happy with my current employer and see the value in being supported.) I have experience creating timelines for improvement, evaluating employee concerns, and establishing marketing strategies. I can be reached at: worldofwritermom@outlook.com and worldofwritermom.org for commissioned work. #marketing #leadership #safety #change #healthcare #mentalhealthcare #worldofwritermomrecommends #MHTlife

Related story that inspired this post: https://lnkd.in/dd79H-K

Thanks for taking time to read this blog.

You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And...a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/

This article features our special affiliate collaboration.

We invite you to look at their shop.

Here's the perfect opportunity to select a gift for someone you love.

I'm happy to help you if you require assistance.

Message me in the comments section.

Pages

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

CONTENTMENT - Eleven Points

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Ten Ways to Chase Away Amazing Employees

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Advocacy and Awareness in the Work place